During his time in Aotearoa, Joar Nango visited Maota Samoa (Samoa House) with Bonni Luafutu-Tamati from Samoa House Library, who contributed a number of publications to Building an archive of Indigenous architecture. Joar was struck by both the beauty of the fale, and the very pressing need to preserve this important piece of architecture.

In this Coffee & Croissants kōrero, Bonni Luafutu-Tamati and Antony Phillips (Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga) will highlight the critical heritage of the building and necessity for action to protect this key example of Indigenous architecture in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Get your $10 ticket to attend this morning talk with a coffee & croissant in hand.

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Bonni Luafutu-Tamati serves as the Operations Manager of Samoa House Library, where she coordinates free alternative education programs, research residencies, and an accessible art library on the second floor of Maota Samoa. She is also an active member of Friends of Maota Samoa, contributing to efforts to preserve and protect Maota Samoa's heritage and culture.

Established in 2023, Friends of Maota Samoa is a community society dedicated to recognizing and preserving the architectural heritage of Maota Samoa, a significant building on Karangahape Road constructed in 1978. Their mission is to empower future generations to embrace Maota Samoa as a cultural treasure and a vibrant gathering place for the Samoan and broader Pacific communities in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The Komiti of Friends of Maota Samoa consists of Samoan professionals, some with family connections to the building's history. The organisation is supported by a dedicated network of community members, including first and second-generation New Zealand-born Samoans and Samoan citizens, all united in honoring the legacy of those who contributed to Maota Samoa’s creation.

Antony Phillips (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa) is the Senior Outreach Advisor at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Antony works in a national role, connecting Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to the public through a variety of facets. He is particularly passionate about our diverse heritage landscape and ensuring the voices, places, and histories of all communities are captured and preserved for future generations.

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Coffee & Croissants is a conversation series supported by our friends at Allpress Espresso and Daily Bread.